The era of Paul Diaz begins now

Not so long ago, workers in the United States had minimal workplace rights.

For example, hazardous working conditions were rampant. Discrimination based on skin color, ethnicity, and language wasn’t just common – it was widely accepted as “normal.” Not to mention, women were systemically barred from higher-paying jobs.

It was not until much later in the 20th century that we began to see labor laws change.

But for Paul Diaz, there is still room to improve.

In fact, advocating for veterinary professionals is what he does best!

As a United States Marine Corps Veteran with over 21 years of experience leading recruiting teams in multiple industries and a Vice President of DVM Recruiting for one of the nation’s largest veterinary employers, Diaz has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to hiring practices.

It is what prompted him to start his own company called Hire Power Consulting.

Vet Candy is beyond thankful to Paul Diaz for taking the time to speak with us today. In this interview, he discusses why signing non-competes is problematic, what qualities contributed to his success, plus the best career advice he ever received.

Introducing, the champion for veterinarian rights, Paul Diaz!

Asked to Sign a Non-Compete? Think Twice

All veterinarians must complete studies on the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

However, when it comes to ethical issues surrounding our own employment, the waters suddenly get muddy. Oftentimes, a new job comes with what is called a “non-compete agreement.”

At its core, this is a legal document which, according to the AVMA, can include restricting where a veterinarian can work geographically (should they quit or be fired), prevent them from opening their own practice nearby, and disallow them from taking on clients who they once worked with on behalf of their past employer.

As you can imagine, this has the potential to create all sorts of ethical dilemmas…

After hearing horror stories from veterinarians who had signed non-competes, Paul Diaz decided enough was enough. He immediately made a business decision to stop working with employers who required non-competes. 

RELATED, can you get out of a non-compete contract? Listen here

Thus, Hire Power Consulting became something of a rare “unicorn” in the industry.

But this turned out to be a powerful decision.

Despite losing over 90% of his clients in the short-term, the veterinary community rallied around Diaz in support. Luckily, his belief in servant leadership, ability to build strong, high performing teams, and desire to do the things others won’t (even if that means making the hard choice) has led him to build an astonishingly successful business.

But his ultimate mission in life?

“To care for my family and friends and do everything I can to provide them the best life I can,” he says.

And quite clearly, this includes looking out for the welfare of veterinarians, too!

Focus on Yourself

Hindsight is 20-20, as they say. In retrospect, Paul Diaz would tell his younger self “Don’t ever worry about what other people think.”

However, it took time to learn this lesson. When asked what the best career advice he ever received was, Paul recalled the following story:

“I was applying for an internal promotion knowing I was the most underqualified candidate,” he said. My boss at the time could sense my anxiety. She called me into her office and we spoke about it. She listened intently. When I was done speaking, she asked me one simple question, ‘What can you do about it?’ She was asking me what I could do about the other candidate’s experience levels.”

When he replied there was nothing he could do, she said, “Exactly, there’s nothing you can do about it so stop worrying.”

It was at that moment Paul realized that by focusing on his competitors, he was preventing himself from doing his best.

So, he stopped worrying and instead brainstormed how to turn his weaknesses into a strengths.

It paid off!

He got the job.

In summary, Paul Diaz encourages everyone to simply be the best versions of themselves.

“What’s important is simply being a good human,” he ends.

Want to learn more about Paul? Check him out on Vet Candy IRL podcast: listen now